Inland Empire Regional Composting Authority

The Inland Empire Regional Composting Authority (IERCA) is a sewage sludge treatment plant in Rancho Cucagmonga, California. It was created and is operated by the Inland Empire Utilities Agency and the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County.

The IERCA treats sewage sludge from municipal waste treatment plants in San Bernardino County in California. It is the "nation's largest indoor composting facility," according to the IERCA website. The IERCA creates and markets SoilPro "biosolids compost," which is treated sewage sludge, and markets it to retail stores, backyard gardeners and other consumers. For example, SoilPro is sold to southern California gardeners in Kellogg Garden Products like Amend, Topper, Gromulch, and Nitrohumus.

Sewage Sludge Compost
IERCA's sewage sludge compost, SoilPro, contains sewage sludge and wood and green waste. It is used in the Kellogg Garden Products line in products such as Amend The sludge and plant waste are first mixed and then composted. Once they have broken down, they are screened and aged for a month. IERCA uses the Aerated Static Pile (ASP) method of composting. To do that, "air is forced through loosely piled organic feedstocks" throughout the entire composting process. "The IERCF uses the ASP method of composting by drawing air though the compost piles with fans and exhausting the foul air through a biofilter. The biofilter satisfies air regulations and controls odor emissions." The total composting process takes 60 days. IERCA produces 250,000 cubic yards (90,000 tons) per year of the finished product, which is marketed as "Class A Exceptional Quality Compost" and sold in bulk to landscapers, farmers, nurseries, and top soil blenders under the brand name SoilPro.

IERCA's facility receives 150,000 tons/year of sewage sludge (75,000 tons each from Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County and Inland Empire Utilities Agency. Additionally, they use 150,000 tons/ year of "Bulking Agents & Feedstocks (Manure, Green Waste, Etc.)."een waste.

Board of Directors
IERCA Board of Directors:
 * Jon Blickenstaff, Chairman
 * Gene Koopman, Vice President
 * Angel Santiago, Director
 * Thomas Love, Director
 * Manuel E. Guillen, Director
 * Stephen Maguin, Director

Staff

 * Product Sales: John Robison and Jim Cleveland
 * Deputy Manager of Operations and Organics: Jeff Ziegenbein
 * Project Manager: Patrick Sheilds

Contact Information

 * Inland Empire Regional Composting Authority
 * 12645 Sixth Street
 * Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739
 * Ph: 909-993-1500
 * Web: http://www.ierca.org

Related SourceWatch articles

 * SoilPro
 * Inland Empire Utilities Agency
 * Sewage sludge
 * Kellogg Garden Products